Filner Releases Calendar: What’s Missing?

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Congressman Bob Filner and City Councilman Carl DeMaio squared off in a mayoral debate at KPBS on Oct. 1, 2012.

SAN DIEGO  San Diego mayoral candidate Bob Filner says he has released what he says is his personal, campaign and congressional calendar to the KPBS/I-Newsource Investigations Desk. The congressman was challenged to release the document in a show of transparency. But the calendar is missing 91 days out of 261, and does not contain any business conducted in Washington D.C.

San Diego mayoral candidate Bob Filner released his calendar to the KPBS/I-Newsource Investigations Desk. The calendar is missing several days, and all activity in Washington D.C.

The document Filner provided begins on January 14, 2012, and ends September 30, 2012. It’s a long list of luncheons, dedication ceremonies and opening receptions.

"My personal, campaign and Congressional calendars are all incorporated and managed by the Congressional staff, as allowed by law," Filner wrote in an email to KPBS.

"I have released my calendar void of constituent and personal appointments to the media, as requested," he wrote.

Document

Bob Filner's Calendar

Congressman Bob Filner released this document in response to The KPBS/I-Newsource Investigations Desk to release his personal calendar, with the understanding that he might redact any truly personal items.

It was in response to a KPBS/I-Newsource investigation about whether DeMaio’s relationship with wealthy developer and newspaper owner Doug Manchester could ultimately influence decisions made at City Hall if DeMaio is elected mayor.

In our series, Port Authority, the KPBS/I-Newsource Investigations Desk documents the long financial and political relationship between elected officials and newspaper owner Doug Manchester and his CEO John Lynch. Who stands to win and lose if a new stadium is built at the site of the terminal and why is John Lynch claiming to have the support of one of the San Diego mayoral candidates?

Filner is a congressman and isn’t legally required to release such information because members of Congress are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act.

DeMaio as a councilmember is subject to the Public Records Act, but calendars, especially personal ones, may not fall under the act. The law isn’t clear.